Mail-box.



UNITED STATES PATENT ormon.

AMOS J. WALTERMIRE, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO AUSTIN VJ.

RAYMOND, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ream-191v.

Application filed January 19, 1916. Serial No. 72,968.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat 1, Autos J. TALTERMIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in mail boxes, and has for its objects to provide a mail box which will be convenient in use and may be economically manufactured, the parts being few and simple for these purposes.

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the mail box, the mail receptacle being disposed in closed relation with reference to the ca sing Or frame and hood. Fig. 2 illustrates the position of parts when the mail receptacle has been swung outwardly from the frame or casing.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the mail box and easing, the position of parts being the same as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the device.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, an upright frame or casing is provided consisting, preferably, of a metallic sheet bent to form an elongated rectangular back 5 and two opposed sides 6, the upper end of these parts being provided with a hood 7 projecting forwardly beyond the sides.

As. thus described, a casing Or jacket is provided which is angular in cross-section and which provides a frame for a mounting therein of the receptacle 8, said casing being open at its front and bottom. The frame or casing may be secured, by any suitable means, to a support 9, the straps 9' with rivets being shown for this purpose; and the sides are each provided with a rectilinear slot 10 extending longitudinally thereof and a curved slot 11.

The receptacle 8 consists of an elongated receptacle, open at its-top and formed rec tangular in cross-section, its front 12 being provided with a handle 13, the back, bottom and opposed sides of said receptacle being indicated respectively at 14, 15 and 16, the dimensions thereof being such that being disposed substantially parallel with the rectilinear slots 10.

As is well known, when delivering mail, it is a great convenience to postmen to be able to open a mail box by using one hand only, and it is a matter of convenience if the parts are so arranged that the box will remain open until all ofthe letters, newspapers, ctc., have been deposited. It is considered that the present construction meets these requirements.

In the use of the device, the operator, by use of the handle, may lift the receptacle 8 a limited distance, until the trunnions 18 and 17 move upward in recesses 19 and slots 10. The receptacle may then be swung forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, the trunnions 18 dropping into recesses 19, the trunnions 17 moving downwardly in slots 10, which operate to maintain the receptacle in its forward or open position, and by reversing the operation just described, the

' parts may be disposed in the relative positions shown in Fig. 1.

While the construction shown is preferred, the device would operate in a measure if recesses 19 and 19 were dispensed with or omitted, since slot 11 has a curvature correspending to the arc of a circle the center of which is the upper part of slot 10, and the receptacle 8, if said recesses were omitted,

could be readily swung forwardly or rearwardly, the ends of slots 11 limiting its outward swinging movement. The use of recesses 19 and 19 however, provide a convenient means for automatically locking the receptacle in open or closed positions. ,7

It will be noted that the parts to be used are few, and it is considered that manufacture will be economical and convenient. The fact that the hood projects forwardly tends to prevent snow or rain from entering the receptacle. While I have described the conios strnction in detail, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to exactness in this respect, nor to form, size proportion or material to be used, since the scope'of the invention is determined by the claim.

I claim:

In a mail box an elongaterhnpright casing comprising a. back and two opposed sides and a hood projecting forwardly of its sides, each of its sides being provided near its lower end with a rectilinear slot extending longitudinally thereof and a curved slot disposed above and having recesses opening thereon which extend downwardly substantially parallel with said rectilinear slot, a

receptacle formed rectangular in cross-section provided with an opening in its top, each of its sides being provided with trunnions adapted to be disposed in the slots of the casing to permit forward and rearward swinging movements of the receptacle and for normally maintaining the receptacle in a stationary position after it has completed a swinging movement.

In testimony whereof, I have aliiXed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AMOS J. lVALTERh IIRE. \Vitnesses HIRAH A. S'rURGEs,

L. M. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may'be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

